Notre Dame vs. Denison

Deciding between University of Notre Dame and Denison University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of Notre Dame
Denison University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN
  • Denison Granville, OH
  • Setting
  • Notre Dame Rural Fringe
  • Denison Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Notre Dame 13,042
  • Denison 2,394
  • Type
  • Notre Dame Private 4 Year
  • Denison Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Notre Dame #27
  • Denison #95
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Notre Dame Roman Catholic
  • Denison -
  • Status
  • Notre Dame Non-profit
  • Denison Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Notre Dame
  • Denison
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Notre Dame $65,025
  • Denison $67,000
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Notre Dame $65,025
  • Denison $67,000
  • Room & Board
  • Notre Dame $17,900
  • Denison $16,400
  • Average Net Price
  • Notre Dame $29,300
  • Denison $43,721
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Notre Dame $53,971
  • Denison $38,179
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Notre Dame 61%
  • Denison 94%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Notre Dame 29,942
  • Denison 15,012
  • Admitted
  • Notre Dame 3,374
  • Denison 2,611
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Notre Dame 11.3%
  • Denison 17.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Notre Dame 61.7%
  • Denison 23.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Notre Dame 1510
  • Denison 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • Notre Dame 34
  • Denison 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Notre Dame 3.91
  • Denison 3.76
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Notre Dame A
  • Denison A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Notre Dame Elite
  • Denison Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Notre Dame Very High
  • Denison Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Notre Dame 33/35
  • Denison 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • Notre Dame 1455/1560
  • Denison 1320/1490
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Notre Dame Test optional
  • Denison Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Notre Dame Jan 1, 2027
  • Denison Jan 15, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Notre Dame 8:1
  • Denison 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Notre Dame
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • Denison
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Notre Dame 96%
  • Denison 79%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Notre Dame $89,800
  • Denison $56,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Notre Dame 92%
  • Denison 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Notre Dame $21,500
  • Denison $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Notre Dame $222
  • Denison $268
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Notre Dame 52%
  • Denison 48%
  • % Women
  • Notre Dame 48%
  • Denison 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Notre Dame Medium
  • Denison Medium
  • HBCU
  • Notre Dame No
  • Denison No
  • % White
  • Notre Dame 69%
  • Denison 66%
  • % Asian
  • Notre Dame 6%
  • Denison 4%
  • % Black
  • Notre Dame 4%
  • Denison 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Notre Dame 11%
  • Denison 10%
  • % Native American
  • Notre Dame 0%
  • Denison 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Notre Dame 0%
  • Denison 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Notre Dame 4%
  • Denison 4%
  • % International
  • Notre Dame 6%
  • Denison 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Notre Dame 1%
  • Denison 2%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Notre Dame 8%
  • Denison 23%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Notre Dame 82%
  • Denison 58%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Notre Dame Yes
  • Denison Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Notre Dame No
  • Denison No
  • Meal Plan
  • Notre Dame Yes
  • Denison Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Notre Dame No
  • Denison No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Notre Dame No
  • Denison No

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, IN with Denison University in Granville, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Notre Dame is larger than Denison based on total student enrollment (13,042 students vs. 2,394 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Notre Dame is located in Notre Dame, IN (Rural Fringe setting); Denison University is in Granville, OH (Rural Fringe setting).
  • University of Notre Dame is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Denison University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Notre Dame 8:1; Denison University 9:1.

Notre Dame vs. Denison Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Notre Dame or Denison? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Notre Dame than Denison ($29,300 vs. $43,721).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Denison University are 8.4% lower than at University of Notre Dame ($16,400 vs. $17,900).
  • Denison University is 3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Notre Dame (about $1,975 more per year; $67,000.00 vs. $65,025.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3% higher at Denison than at University of Notre Dame (about $1,975 more per year; $67,000.00 vs. $65,025.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Denison University than at University of Notre Dame (94% vs. 61%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Notre Dame students is 41.4% larger than aid received by Denison University students ($53,971 vs. $38,179).

Notre Dame vs. Denison Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Notre Dame or Denison? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Denison and Notre Dame .

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Notre Dame (1510) is 100 points higher than at Denison (1410).
  • Incoming Notre Dame students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 31 at Denison).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Notre Dame 1455/1560; Denison University 1320/1490.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Notre Dame 33/35; Denison University 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Notre Dame - Test optional; Denison - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Notre Dame Jan 1, 2027; Denison Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Notre Dame students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Denison (3.76).
  • Denison has a higher acceptance rate (17.4%) than Notre Dame (11.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 61.7% at Notre Dame vs. 23.8% at Denison.

Notre Dame vs. Denison Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Notre Dame and Denison? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • University of Notre Dame's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Denison University's (79%).
  • Graduates from University of Notre Dame earn a median of about $33,700 more per year than Denison graduates about ten years after starting college ($89,800 vs. $56,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Notre Dame graduates have a $4,500 lower median loan debt than Denison graduates ($21,500 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, Notre Dame graduates have an estimated $46 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Denison graduates ($222 vs. $268).
  • More Notre Dame graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Denison students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 83%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.